West Bengal releases funds for flood-affected farmers

The West Bengal government today released a fund of Rs 308.10 crore for farmers affected by the recent floods in the state.
State Agriculture Minister Ashish Banerjee said distribution of cheques to the farmers would be initiated from November 15.
"This is the first phase when farmers affected by the flood in three months of this monsoon will be given cheques by our department. The distribution of the cheques will start from November 15 and the second phase of cheque distribution will start within seven days after that," Banerjee told PTI.
Farmers in 13 districts, including Hooghly, Howrah, North and South 24 Parganas, East and West Medinipore, Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia and Jhargram would be getting the funds, he said.

"As of now we have released Rs 308.10 crore for the affected farmers, but this is likely to go up once water recedes in some parts which are still inundated," Banerjee said.
Another official of the department said losses of farmers estimated to be beyond 33 per cent of their total expected production, would be getting the cheques.